Knurling machine



y 1945 1.. R. JENSEN 2,379,718

KNURLING MACHINE Filed Aug. 23, 1943 '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ing roll.

Patented July 3, 1945 r momma Lionel K. Jensen; Rockford; Ill, assignon to, Geo; D. Rfopen Corporation; Rockford; 111,, a. co.r-.

poratiom ot Illinois Apnlioatiiont August 23, 1 43, Soviet; No.

19; Claims.

This invention relates to a, new and, improvedknurling machine, and more; particularly, one:

designed and especially adapted: ion-knurling, the

one

"(oizso nsm 1 one of. the principal objects of: my inventio is to provide a machine lin whichkeve y work? piece is given: the same definite number. oi ime pressions evenly spaced circumferentialty of. the. piece, the knurling. roll haying: only that num er of projecting knurlingflprojections thereon; the

rest ofthe periphery being smooth an oi slightly reduced diameter. In that way there is avoided any possibility of the; knurling on. a, piece overlapping at one point. n i

1 Another object of my invention is to ptotidea machine. in which the work-niecesitotbe knuitled are fed through a curved grooveconcentrio; with the knurling roll, and a stop proiection i's provided in the entrance portion of the groove. to

serve'as a feeler that will enter the groove in each work-piece as itis fedthrough thegroove,

whereby to preventedan age to the knurling' roll in the event a worn-piece hastno groove, or: the groove is not properly located or ofi the proper width. t

Still another of thetkind mentioned in which-the: work piece is held yielding-1y inthe entrance portion oiithe groove, while in contactwith the smooth periph "eral portion of the knurlingti oll, untilthe toothed ,knurling portion comesincontactwith the piece, so as to feed the piece through the groove in the operation of the knurling v rollas :i-t roilstthe knurltherein. t i i i still ianotherobject is to provide in a machine of the kind mentioned a swingable gate mem oer-adjacent the entrance-portion of-the groove, which is adapted to swing pentdadn it a vork- :piece to the starting zone hut-positively Pre ent passage of the workpiece to the knurhngmroll until the smooth portionof their-011 is p ti ned for engagement With the work-piece sazid tgate .being spring actuated to movethe workpiece forwardly to then starting point under spning being -timed by wa camtheztturns with :the lcnurlr The invention is illustrated m ga'rccompanw ing drawings, i i i t object is to provide a machine Eliea p an vi w Qt. emotive mad accordance th nvention; a

2 a s m lar: viewi nttshowine the texts. m-mo d-p sitionst ni a 3 =3o tFig.1j. M he same reierence nume al ere applied, to oo ne pondine mitt t .,,ee ews. 1 a

T reier nc numera 5 is sed to. des gnate thework pieces. wh qht a niceyionsl i eieeted, are shot having demonized, putt, portions. he annular; rid es 1 whichreeu xe smirlin t to. that, when a coo er nfline bend is, sw de-ed place h s emovesthebanqs; w ll he g inned secu ely by these knurled K201331995. and tenant possiblyturnwithrespe to the hot... ellsn i me r ll- 8 has a oothempexiphem tween and e smoo h nonmetal port on i he eeth m the portions heme e ectly nemhe xe quires! or the knu lins-oi the shot in one pass so that there will be no. problem .regi tetiee seeond imprint ione or teet on the-rolt mother words, at theend. oi the Kenn ng or? e.- i i the smo h ortion in on the roll comes position adjacent. the fini he shot and the shot is then eady to be r mo ed The smooth tion "L as elear y appears in Fig Let ia. i an arc oi the same radius with the roe p r ot the teeth 9 o t at he rollili is with. respect t the; hot he shot it in the startin position, shown at the eft; in Fiegi in contaetwith the ,smoethpo tion it of. the r ll,-

'I'. & eam I In, hi htu ns with t e t ll 8, times the entry o eeoh otto thestertine eqsition n elation to the turning oi the oll 83: 0 he? fiafih shot w l ,filtsteome ineontest with the smooth po tion H1 Qt the ,toll- The roll 1313131 etion thereby pos tive y edy ne ne he shot hmueh the machine. n the kn iline oper tion theshot rolls on the ar uete surtaee it of he top plate the suriece 12 being s ruck; en a owith the ve tical she tilfl, on which the roll .13 an cam. II a e moun edt or rota e ezcenter- A serpentine groove L5, fo ming a euid ,ay

for the worm-pieces :5, is defined between-the pl te I and a. c mpanio top la e 16, astelee y flap ea sn nifi s. 1 and 2 h 7 0 beine nte e t one end H and after being rolled in the middle arcuate portion I18 leaving the machine on the' other-end l9. A Iserpentine=shaped shim eplate .2fl vis mounted with the top plates l3 and Fi w is, a. verti al se tio mo e hi'q stn Fig. 1.

, shown in Fig. 2.

In that way if the operator attempts to pass a shot through the machine whichtmay have no groove in it at all, or may have'the groove at the wrong location, such a Ishotswill be stopped by the plug 23 and damage to the machine will accordingly be prevented. When the shot to be knurled has passed-the plug 23, it is held releasably, as shown at the left in Fig. 1, between the sifnooth portion ID of the knurling roll 8 and a pair of spaced spring pressed plungers 24 and 25 mounted in a box 26 fixed to the top of the plate [3 adjacent the entrance portion I! of the groove l5. The plungers 24 and 25 have coiled compression springs 21, which normally hold these plungers in a position projectin inwardly a small distance from the arcuate surface l2 toward the knurling roll, as However, the plunger'24 is easily depressed when the shot is moved into position in abutment with the-smooth portion ID of the knurling roll, as shown in Fig. 1, the shot being then fairly securely held against accidental displacement by'its three point engage ment, one of which points is on the surface), and the other two points at the plungers 24 and 25. However, as soon as'the toothed portion!) of the knurling roll comes into contact with the shot at the start of the knurling operation, the

shot is fed positively through the machine in.

the'manner indicated by the right hand shot in Fig. 2. Finally, afterthe knurling operation has been completed, another spring pressed plunger 28, similar to the plungers 24 and and mounted with its coiled compression spring in a box 29 on the plate [3' adjacent the exit end l9 of the groove l5, serves to hold the finished shot against accidental displacementinwardly from the exit end of the groove, in the manner indicated by the right hand shot in Fig. 1.- It will be observed that according to my invention precision in the shape and formation of the ultimate indentures is attained by providing the roll H with exactly the number. of indenturing teeth to completely indenture the periphery of a work-piece portion of'predetermineddiameter without marring or damaging the previously formed indentures by overrunning or overlapping. Thus when the last of the indenturing teeth has fullyengaged iri. the shot the indenturing is completed. As the roll 8 rotates the smooth portion) comes opposite the spring pressed plunger 28. The pressure against the shot being relieved, the plunger is free to move the shotto the position shown jin'full lines at the right in Fig. 1 with the indentured portion of the shot clear, of the indenturing teeth.

- The swingable gate member til serves, as indicated in Fig. 2 to prevent entrybf a'shot while another shot is being knurled. It also serves, as shown in Fig. 1, to move a shotunder spring pressure from the entrance end of the groove l5 to the starting position, shown atthe left in. Fig. 1, and to keep the shot spring pressedtoward engagement with the smooth portionlfl of the knurling roll, so that the toothed portion Swill be certain of taking hold on-the shot at the commencement of the knurling operation, after which the shot, as previously stated, is fed positively through the machine by the knurling roll. itself. The gate member 30 is pivoted on the:

top plate l6 at 3| and is normally urgedto turn.

in a counterclockwise direction by a .coiled ten-- sion spring 32, that is attached at one end on.

the gate member at 33 and is affixed at its other end on a post 34 projecting upwardly from the top plate [6. A'followerroller 35 is mounted on, the gate member 30 and runs on the periphery of. the cam H. The spring 32 keeps thegate member spring pressed toward engagement with the cam and so long asthe dwell portion 36 on the cam is, in engagement with the follower.

roller 35,.the'gate member 30 is held in the extremeretracte'd position, shown in Fig. 2, in which a stop projection 31 on the gate member projects into the groove l5 at a point in front of: the knurling roll to positively stop a shot and prevent itfrom being moved in to contact with the knurling roll while another shot is being knurled, asclearly appears in Fig. 2; However,

when the roller 35 encounters the drop off portion'38 of the camfthe gate member 30 swings inwardly under action of the spring '32 and moves the shot with it to the'star'ting position, shown at the left in Fig. 1, a ro1ler'39 mounted on the free endof the gate member 30 being arranged to have rolling contact with the shot in this operation. The rise 40 on the cam is in such lagging relationship tothe toothed portion 9 of" theknurling roll, as appears in Fig. 1, that the shot is kept under spring pressure toward the knurling roll by the 'gate member 30 until the toothed portion of the knurling roll has'taken hold and the knurling operation is definitely under way, after which the gate member 3'0 is positively moved again back to the retracted position by the cam ll In the hollow base 4| of the machine, a worm gear 42'is keyed on the lower end of the shaft l4 and'jh as a worm 43 meshing therewith. The worm is mounted on a shaft 44' which projects from the base' and has a drive pulley 45 mounted on the outer end thereof forbelt and pulley driving connection with an electric motor, not shown.

The operation of this machine is believed to be apparent from the foregoing description, and although the invention has been described as applied specifically to'knurling, it should be understood that it may be applied to other metal rolling operations regardless of the particular typeof indenturing operation that maybe required. Itgoes withoutsaying that the inventionis not limited to .use on shot, but is applicable generally to the knurling, or otherwise indenturing, of anycylindrical or round workpiecesj It is believed theforegoin'g description conveys a good understanding of the objects and advantages offmy invention. The appended cla'imsfhave been drawn to cover modifications and adaptations.

l. 'Infa machine ofthe character described, a

fixed memberhaving a smooth arcuate surface, a rotary member mounted for rotation about a vertical axis substantially coincident with the center of said arcuate surface and having a portion 'of'the periphery thereof smooth and on an arc substantially concentric with the arcuate surface, the balance of'the periphery of said rotary member being toothed but also'struck on an are concentric with the aforesaid arcuate surface, means for rotating said rotary member to roll an article between the arcuate surface and the rotary meme all legitimate j her. in engagement the toothed portion of the peripherythereof, a gate member piroted on 'a substantially verticai axis for oscillatorymoyement relaitive 3170 the feed-in side of the rotary member m 'n'l'GK/e an article into position'between the endi portion "of the arcuate surfacean'd the rotary "member, spring means normally tending to swing' the gate memberinrone direction, whereby the article to be rolled between the arcuate soar-face and the toothed periphera l portion of the rotary member :is adapted to be fed in under spring lpressure, andimeans :for nositiyely swinging the gate memmrm the opposite direction in timed relation with the turning of the rotary "member so that the article to be; operated upon its first engaged with thewsmoothperipheral porof'thetrotarymember; i i i i .Armachine 'as set forth in claim 1, wherein smooth portion. of the peripheryof the rotary member is on an arc of substantially the same radins' as the root nortions of the teeth of the toothed portion of the rotary member, the circumferential dimension of :thectoothed portion beingizsubstantially equivalent to the circumfer ential dimensionof al cylindrical article to be indentured. y l

3. A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein the gate member has a stop projection thereon, which in the positively retractedkposition 'of the gate member is so disposed with respect to the lend portionof the arcuate surface and the feedin side of the rotary member to prevent entrance of an article to be-rolled to the starting position between the-end portion of the arcuate sur-tace and the rotary member.

4. A machine as set forth claim 1%, including yieldabledetent means on the fixed member projecting inwardly toward the rotary vmember at one end of the arcuate surface to retain an article in' the startingwposition inoontact with wardlyqtoward the rotary member .at the other of the arcuate surface to prevent return movement oflan indentured article after tit has heen rwolled between the .arcuate surface and the of the arcuate surface and the rotary member, and meansjior oscillating tnengate member in timed} relation with the turning of theoretary member 'so that an article .to be. rolled is moved into the starting. position by the :gate member and engaged with i the smooth peripheral portion of the roterytmemrber; 1

7. A machine as set forth in claim 6, wherein i the gate member has :a stop projection: thereon, whichliinvthe retracted position of :the gate mom-- beris lso disposed with respect to the? end porti'on of the arcuate surface and the feed-in .side'lof; the rotary' memberto prevent entrance of an article to he rolled to: the starting "position between the endportion of the arcuate surface" and the rotary member. i 8. Amachine as set forth "claimfl', i including yieldalole detent 'means mr the fixed memherprm jeoting inwardly toward the rotary memberat one end of the arcuate surface to :retainamanticle in the starting position in contact with-the smooth-peripheral portion of the ,rotarymemher until the article is engaged by the tQUthBd- DE- riphorai portion. of. said rotary memherr:

a machine aswset forth claim a, manning :yieldahle detentmeans onthernxed memberpro jecting; inwardly toward the rotarynmember-lat one emd of the climate surface to retainrian article in: "the starting position iin contaotwvzith the smoothiperipherai portion of the rotary meme ber cmtil the: :article isengaged by the "toothed peripheral portion: of :saidrrotary member; =-arrd other yieldable detent :means iflnfTthe fixedrmem- :ber projecting inwardly'ftowardrthe rotarylmem" "her at the'votheryend of the 'arcuatelssnnfiacemto prevent return movement wof ran indentlired tz-xartoothedperipheral portion of the rotary member.

G. In a machine of the character described, a fixed member having a smoothkarcuate surface, alrotary member mounted for rotation about an said arcuate surface and haiiingaportion of the periphery thereof smooth, and Ionan arc substane tially concentric with the arcuate surface, the balance of the periphery of said rotary member being toothed but also struck on an arc concen-y trio with the aforesaid arcuate surfacenneans for rotating said rotary member to roll an article between the arcuate surface and the rotary member in engagement with the toothed portion of a t a i (ll axis substantially coincident with the center of ticle 'atterwit jhas been rolled between the: arcuate surface :and vrthe. toothed .peniprheraL portionuiof the rotaryzmemherr i i 410; In a machine :of the character "described,

a: fixedmember haying a smooth ancuate surface, a rotary-member mounted 'iior rotation ahont an V :axisv substantial-1y coincident with :thexrcemien :of said-arouate sumface :and having-a portionzaof the periphery thereof smooth sand onl anamc substantrio with the aforesaid :arcuate snrfzace,1,meams for rotating said: rotary member to rbllzan article between the arcuate surf-ace and the rotaryrm'emher in "engagement with the toothed portion of the periphery thereof, a gateqmembervpiyoted onan axis substantially parallel totthe axis? or the-rotary member-(for oscillatory movementzrelw tive to thefeodi-in side of the irotary member'ito move an article into position betweenrthe: end usertionof the t-a-rcua-te surface and the rotary kmem M bar, .a' cam turningwith the rotary member in concentric relation therewith, a followeronnthc gate .member n1 contact with said: loamy, whereby said-gate member is arranged to be moved posi- -tive1y in 1 one direction :i-n timed relationto the turning of therota-ry member, and spring means forms vine; the gate member .in the opnositefdirection. it v t y a 1 1-. A maohinelas set forth in claim 10,;vtherein the gate member has .a stop projection thereon,

which in the retracted position of the gateimem ybe mis sodisposed with respect toatheuend portion of the 'ancuate surface and thefeed-in side ofathe rotaryf'member to prevent entrance 'of. an article to: be .rolled tathe starting lposition between the end portion? of the arcuate surface and thez'rotany member.

12. A machine as setforth in claim 10, including yieldable. detent means on the fixed member projecting inwardlytoward the rotary'member at one endicf the arcuate surface toretain an article'in the starting position in contact with the smooth peripheral portion of the rotary member until the article is engaged by the toothed peripheral portion of said rotary member.

13. A machine as set forth .in claim 10, including yieldable detent means on thenfixed'member projecting inwardly toward the rotary member at o'ne end of the arcuate surface to retain an article in the-starting position in contact with the smooth peripheral portion of the rotary member until the article is engaged by the toothed peripheral portion of said rotary member, and

otheryieldable detent means on the fixed memberprojecting inwardly towardthe rotary member at the other end of the arcuate surface to prevent return movement of an indentured article after it has been rolled between the arcuate surface and'the toothed peripheral portion of the .rotary member.

14.. In a machine of the character described, a

fixed member having'a smooth arcuate surface, a

rotary member mounted for rotation about an axis substantially coincident with the center of said arcuate surface and having a portion of the periphery thereof smooth and on an arc substantially concentric with the arcuate surface, the

balance of the periphery of said rotary member being toothed but also struck on an arcconcentric with the aforesaid arcuate surface, the circumferential'dimension of the toothed portion being substantially equivalent to the circumferential dimension of a cylindrical article to be indentured by'rolling contact with said toothed surface, and

means for rotating said rotary member to roll an article between the arcuate surface and the rotary member in'engagement with the toothed portion of the periphery thereof, the smooth portion of the periphery of the rotary member-bein on an arc of substantially the, same radius asthe root portions of the teeth of the toothed portion of the rotary member, the machine including yieldable detent means on the fixed member projecting inwardly toward the rotarymember at one end of the arcuate surface wardly toward the rotary member at one end of the arcuate surface toretain an articlein the starting position in contact with the smooth peripheral portion of the rotary member until the article is engaged by the toothed peripheral portion of said rotary member, and other yieldable detent means on the fixed member projecting inwardly toward the rotary member at the-other end of the arcuate surface to prevent return movement of an indentured article after it has been rolled between thearcuate surface and the toothed peripheral portion of the rotary member. 16. In a machine of the character'des'cribed, a fixed member having a smooth arcuate surface, a rotary member mounted for rotation about'jan axis substantially coincident with theycenter of said arcuate surface and having a portion ofthe periphery thereof smooth and on an arc-substantially concentri with the arcuate surface, -the balance of theperiphery of said rotary member being toothed but also struck on an arc concentric with the aforesaid arcuate surface, thecirs cumferential dimension of the toothed portion being substantially equivalent to the circumferen tial dimension of a cylindrical article to be indentured by rolling contact with said toothed surface, means for rotating said rotary member to roll an'article between the arcuate surface and the rotary member in engagement with the .toothed portion of the periphery thereof, the smooth portion of the peripheryof the rotary member being on an arc of substantiallythe same radius as the root portions, of i the teeth of the toothed portion of the rotary member, the' machine including yieldable detent means on the fixed member projecting inwardly toward the rotary member at one end of the arcuate surface to retain an article in the starting position in contact with the smooth peripheral portion of the rotary member until the article is engaged by the toothed peripheral portion of said rotary member,

and spring actuated'feed-in means for applying spring pressure on an article towardengagement between the detent means and the smooth peripheral portion of the rotary member. t v 17. In a machineof the character described-a fixed member havinga smooth arcuate surface, 'a

a rotary member mounted for rotation about an axis substantially coincident withthe center of said arcuate surface andv having a portion of the periphery thereof smooth and on an arc substantially concentric with the arcuate surface, the bal-- ance of the periphery of said rotary member be- 'ing toothed but also struck on an arc concentric member'in engagement with the toothed portion of the periphery thereof, the smooth portion of the periphery of the rotary member being on an arc'of substantially the same radius as the root portions of .the teeth of the toothed portion of the rotary member, the machine including yieldable detent means on the fixed member projecting'inaxis substantially coincident with the center of 0 said arcuate surface and. having a portion ofthe periphery, thereof smooth andon an arc substantially concentric'with the arcuate surface, the balance of the periphery of said rotary member being toothed but also struck on an arc concentric with the aforesaid arcuatesurface, the circum ferential dimension of the too'thedportion being substantially equivalent to the circumferential dimension of a cylindrical article to be indentured by rolling contact with said toothed surface, means for rotating said rotary member to roll an article between the arcuate surface and the rotary member in engagement with the toothed portion of the periphery thereof, the smooth portion of the periphery of the rotary member-being on an arc of substantially the same radius as the root portions of the teeth of the toothed portion of the rotary member, and spring actuated feed-in means for applying spring pressure on an article to be rolled between the arcuate/surface and the toothed peripheral portion of the rotary member to maintain the article in engagement with the smooth peripheral portion of the rotary member until it is engaged by the toothed peripheral portion. '{18. In a machine for making indentures a rotary indenturing roll and a work-piece supporting element associated therewith, the roll having actly the-number of indenturing teeth to completely indenture the periphery of a cylindrical work-piece Without overlapping a finished tooth indenture, a serpentine guide-Way for guiding the work-piece in its approach to the indenturing roll and for guiding the work-piece in an arcuate path,

concentric with the rol1.center during the indenturing operation and for further guiding the work-piece away from said roll after completion of said indenturing operation, and a gate member acting in coaction with the indenturing roll to prevent said advancement of a work-piece to the indenturing r011 until the preceding workpiece has been discharged and the smooth portion of the roll has been positioned to receive said new work-piece.

19. In a machine for making indentures, a rotary indenturing roll and a work-piece supporting element associated therewith, the roll having a toothed peripheral portion and a smooth peripheral portion intermediate the ends of the toothed portion, the toothed portion having exactly the number of indenturing teeth to (completely indenture the periphery of a cylindrical work-piece Without overlapping a finished tooth indenture, a serpentine guide-way for guiding the work-piece in its approach to the indenturing roll and for guiding the work-piece in an arcuate path concentric with the roll center during the indenturing operation and for further guiding the work-piece away from said roll after completion of said indenturing operation, a gate member acting in coaction with the indenturing roll to prevent said advancement of a work-piece to the indenturing roll until the preceding work-piece has been discharged and the smooth portion of the roll has been positioned to receive said new workpiece, and means for causing said gate member to urge saidnew Work-piece into engagement with said smooth portion and thereby. locating the work-piece in position to be engaged by the indenturing teeth upon rotation of the indenturing roll. M LIONEL R. JENSEN; 

